5G empowers low-altitude economy. my country will build the world’s largest low-altitude communication network
The emergence of 5G technology is set to empower the low-altitude economy in China, as the country aims to establish the largest low-altitude communication network in the world. According to the latest data from the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the total number of 5G base stations in China has reached 4.042 million, accounting for 32.1% of the total mobile base stations, making it the largest network globally. Notably, these applications have already expanded to cover 74 categories of the national economy.
In addition to the large-scale replication of mature 5G applications, the exploration of new application scenarios has shifted significant industry focus towards the low-altitude economy. Current developments indicate that China is making strides to create the world’s most extensive low-altitude communication network.
CCTV reporter Ning Kun highlighted a recent innovation in emergency medical response, explaining that ambulances now serve as advanced mobile life-saving units. Equipped with various medical devices such as ventilators and monitoring equipment, these ambulances can remotely connect with hospital command centers thanks to 5G technology. Furthermore, a drone capable of transporting blood samples and essential medical supplies is mounted on top of the ambulance, significantly enhancing the efficiency of emergency care by facilitating timely delivery before the ambulance even arrives at the hospital.
Medical emergency services have emerged as one of the ten typical application scenarios of this low-altitude economy. Other scenarios, including low-altitude logistics, low-altitude travel, and airspace management, are also witnessing the deployment of practical applications.
On October 12, 15 cities, including Beijing, Shanghai, Chongqing, and Hangzhou, announced a collaborative effort with multiple state-owned enterprises to build a nationwide low-altitude comprehensive operation platform, with plans to establish 100 benchmark demonstration projects across various industries.
Li Xiaofan, General Manager of the 5G IoT Product Department at China Mobile’s Government and Enterprise Division, provided an example of the efficiency gains achieved through low-altitude transport. “A route from Shenzhen to Zhuhai utilizing drones for passenger transport has reduced travel time from three hours to just 20 minutes, significantly enhancing commuting efficiency and promoting the expansion of low-altitude applications, from small-scale to large-scale, and from cargo to passenger transport.”
Industry experts note that low-altitude application scenarios require extending ground network signals to heights of several hundred meters. Currently, over 330 cities in China have initiated the deployment of the latest 5G-A networks, paving the way for the construction of a global low-altitude communication network of unprecedented scale.
Ding Haiyu, Deputy Director of the China Mobile Research Institute, emphasized the integration of radar sensing capabilities with 5G communication modules. This innovation enhances target recognition and facilitates the synergistic use of aerial and terrestrial resources, meeting the connectivity needs of the low-altitude economy.